JEWISH ROOTS
Find Your Way:
WHAT WILL YOU GAIN FROM THIS EMPHASIS?
Having realised how thoroughly Jewish (and not Greek, Roman or English) the Biblical faith in Jesus is, it is only sensible to ask what will you will gain from this emphasis?
A correctly Jewish understanding of Jesus will enable you to more fully appreciate his life, actions and words. Often, you will find that seemingly difficult sayings or actions of Jesus become understandable when you cease viewing them from our modern, Western and Gentile viewpoint. For example, how many realise that Jesus’ teachings were not randomly initiated by events that happened around him? His teachings were based on the Torah & HaphTarah readings in the Synagogue that Sabbath. (A three year cycle of reading through Scripture on a weekly basis was used.) Having realised this you will begin to appreciate how the Gospels accurately preserve the life and teachings of Jesus. Sometimes an incident or teaching in a Gospel seems completely out of place, unrelated to what has gone before or follows after! However, when you know which passages from the Tenach (Old Testament) had been read in the Synagogue that week, they can suddenly become clear.
(This is one of the exciting areas we shall be addressing on this site – be careful though, the lectionary readings in the first century are no longer used today.)
Fully understanding that the Bible is not two different collections of writings combined - one Greek the other Hebrew - will also revolutionise your reading of God’s Word. Discovering that every New Testament writer was Jewish through and through will enable you to read it anew. You begin to follow the Rabbinic style of arguments that Paul uses. You trace the use of Old Testament allusion and quotations in the New Testament. Now you read not only the sentence or two quoted but also the context - the writer’s use of the Old Testament becomes illuminated afresh!
You appreciate the “Church” Jesus brought into being was thoroughly Jewish in nature. It was birthed on a Jewish Festival (as its Saviour was), the festival of Shavuot (Pentecost). Suddenly all the events of that Pentecost in Jerusalem take on new meaning as you see them in the light of Israel at Mount Sinai.
This emphasis on “Jewish Roots” has, or should have one glorious goal. That goal is to seek to help you, and the Body of Messiah generally, to more fully understand and appreciate the Scriptures in depth. Through this you come to know your lovely Lord & Saviour better and more intimately. What higher goal can any of us have?
Go back to: Why The Emphasis On Jewish Roots?
Continue to: What Exactly Does "Jewish" Mean?
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WELCOME! On this site we hope to:
- Provide good, basic Bible information
- Encourage your pressing on towards the goal...in Christ Jesus
- Express our gratitude to Israel for preserving the Word of God and giving us Messiah
Email: philip.clark5@ntlworld.com
